Kurumi Nara Holds Tennis Clinic / Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture

In Kawanishi City, Hyogo Prefecture, Kurumi Nara (34 years old), a native of the city and a Kawanishi Furusato Ambassador who has been active as a professional women's tennis player for many years, held a tennis clinic on May 9th at the Citizen's Gymnasium and Sports Ground (Koyodai 1, Kawanishi City).

On the day, a Tenipin class for tennis beginners and a tennis class for experienced players were held, with a total of 53 participants.

Kawanishi Furusato Ambassador Kurumi Nara Holds Tennis Clinic

This event, the third of its kind since Nara's appointment as a Kawanishi Furusato Ambassador, first offered a Tenipin class for preschoolers aged 4-6 who were new to tennis. This class allowed them to enjoy hitting balls with a racket that fits over their palm, making it fun even for beginners. Additionally, tennis classes aimed at improving skills were held for experienced players, divided into two age groups (4-12 years old and 13-18 years old).

Participants listened intently to Nara's kind and thorough instruction and enjoyed the event.

Scenes from the Tenipin class Scenes from coaching on the tennis court Scenes from coaching on the tennis court

After the event, junior high school students attending schools in the city who participated happily commented, "We received various advice on how to hit forehands, backhands, and volleys, and learned a lot about hitting strength, height, and direction. We also got to play doubles together, which was nerve-wracking but very fun. I now want to become even better and feel more motivated."

Kurumi Nara and junior high school students attending schools in Kawanishi City

Kurumi Nara smiled and said, "This time, I introduced Tenipin for the first time, hoping that children in Kawanishi City would first get a taste of tennis and enjoy it from something simple. It was a lot of fun being able to do it with their parents, and I was very happy to see the children engrossed and working hard. Even in the tennis class for experienced players, there were many energetic children, and although I came to teach today, I received power from seeing the children absorbed in tennis, and I was able to thoroughly enjoy the whole day. I usually work in Tokyo or overseas, but when I come back to Kawanishi, my heart truly calms down, and no matter how many times I return, the older I get, the more I feel it's a wonderful place. I am once again happy today to have become a Kawanishi Furusato Ambassador in my beloved hometown, and I'm glad I worked hard in tennis until now. Interacting with the children of Kawanishi in this way is very empowering for me, so I want to continue to do my best to be of help in the future."

See the day's events here!

▷ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYLQFB3zHIf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Reference

Kurumi Nara: Born in Kawanishi City, 34 years old. WTA ranking career high: Singles 32nd, Doubles 109th. Started tennis at age 3 and won all major domestic junior titles. After turning professional at age 17 in 2009, she won matches in all Grand Slams, participating 24 times in total, including 22 consecutive appearances. In 2014, she won a WTA Tour title at the Rio Open, leading Japanese tennis for many years. After retiring in 2022, she is currently active in developing the tennis world, including serving as a coach for the Japanese national team.

Kurumi Nara

Kawanishi Furusato Ambassador: Prominent individuals with ties to Kawanishi City are appointed to widely promote the history, art, culture, and industry of Kawanishi City, exchange information about the city, and cooperate in improving the city's image and promoting tourism. Kurumi Nara was appointed on May 18, 2024.